Warm weather playing havoc on the ice

This mid-winter thaw will likely take a toll on area ice, making conditions excessively hazardous for ice fishing on some lakes.

By MARK SPENCLEYmark@cheboygantribune.com

This mid-winter thaw will likely take a toll on area ice, making conditions excessively hazardous for ice fishing on some lakes.Rain and temperatures in the 50s will soften the sheet of ice that has allowed anglers to access fishing hotspots for the last two weeks. Inevitably, some anglers will still press their luck over the weekend. “Safety should always be first,” said Sgt. Greg Drogowski with the Department of Natural Resources. “Ice conditions are so variable, if there is any question don’t risk it. Big lakes are even tougher to predict.”Ice that gets softened and refrozen can take on a different appearance than initial ice, which can be indicative of its structural strength. When this happens, ice thickness isn’t always a reliable indicator of ice strength.“Six inches of old honeycombed ice is not the same as six inches of new, hard ice,” Tim Cwalinski, Department of Natural Resources Fisheries biologist explained. “Having good ice is just as important as ice thickness.”Knowing the warning signs of weakening ice is the best way to avoid the dangers of treading on unsafe terrain as the ice fishing conditions evolve. Appearance wise, lookout for dark or cloudy ice, both of these indicate compromised structural strength. Good strong ice will appeal clear and brushed, according to DNR officials. As ice gets older it will become air-bubbled, which creates the dark or cloudy appearance.Inconsistent ice is dangerous for several reasons, none greater than the fact that thickness can no longer be used as an indicator of strength.“You can’t always go by thickness, especially as the season goes on,” said Cwalinski.